Saturday, January 04, 2020

Use It or Lose it

When I was young I loved to make lists and catalogue things.  I used to sit and practice different styles of handwriting.  I loved to write stories.  I enjoyed the physical action of writing. When I was in school I learned to type and as I progressed through the educational system more and more things were typewritten.  I went to work and typing was what I did.  Now with computers keyboarding is even more a part of my life

So, as I was thinking about my Goodreads 2020 Reading Challenge I started thinking about keeping a record of what I have read in the past, how best to organize the information so that I don’t repurchase books or start books that I have already read and have forgotten (me, forget?  Never! Right.). As you  might have noticed I have been keeping a running list here but it is getting a bit too unwieldy so I thought I should build some sort of a notebook.

Off to Target I went for a binder, some paper and dividers and new pens.  I sat down to make a page for each author I have read and and list the books on the page.  Sounds doable, right?

Well, I can’t write anymore.  I have arthritis in my hands and I can hardly hold a pen for any length of time.  My handwriting doesn’t even remotely resemble my handwriting and it didn’t take too many pages for my hand to start cramping up.

It makes me sad because I was looking so forward to making this notebook to keep up with my reading.  I did finish it but it looks like a little kid wrote it and I didn’t enjoy the process like I thought I would.  So, annoying!

So, while we are becoming more and more technological remember that if you don’t use it you could lose it and I think losing the ability to write is a huge loss. So, every now and then sit down and just write to make sure you still can!


6 comments:

Granny Marigold said...

You're plan to keep track of authors and books that you've read by them is a great idea but obviously won't be hand written. My handwriting has never been something to be proud of but nowadays arthritis has made it worse. It happens, I guess.

Angela said...

I completely agree. I have loads of knitting needles given to me by ladies who say "I can't knit any more" - I'm determined to keep on knitting, sewing and handwriting for as long as I can. Enjoy your reading!

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Granny Marigold — It is amazing how things change with us physically as things change in our environment. I will be writing now everyday for sure. My handwriting was never great but it was legible, now it is teetering on the edge of scribble!

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Hi, Angela! Thanks! Yes, I am going to go back to some of the hobbies I have left behind — embroidery and cross stitch for one — because I don’t like my hands being so stiff. I guess I can practice my handwriting while my granddaughter practices hers!

Pom Pom said...

Hello BB! Do you have good days and bad days? Ouch.

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Hi Pom Pom! Yes, I do. Unfortunately I have been prescribed a medication that doesn’t allow me to take aspirin or excedrin or Advil — just Tylenol. Tylenol isn’t helpful and my knees are pretty much killing me but it is what it is! I will just keep on keeping on!

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